February 28 - 29, 2008 Advisory Committee Meeting
Minutes

Review of Committee Assignment and Meeting Process

CAPT Richard Troiano, Ph.D., Executive Secretary of the committee, reviewed
the committee's charge and the overall committee process. The committee's work
falls under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). The FACA guidelines are
meant to insure the work of the committee is done in an open and public manner.
All communication with the committee should be done through committee staff so
that all members of the committee receive the same information. The charge of
the committee is to evaluate the scientific evidence of health benefits from
physical activity and not to write the actual guidelines which will be written
by HHS based on the committee's report to the Secretary. Oral comments from the
public will be heard at this meeting and the committee will continue to receive
written comments. Once the report of the committee has been received it will be
posted on the Physical Activity Guidelines website and a 30 day comment period
will commence in which HHS will receive comments from the public. There will be
no changes to the report based on public comment. HHS will then turn over the
process to a writing committee that will draft the guidelines. Additionally, HHS
will begin developing communication materials to disseminate the message of the
guidelines.